when the game is real Guide: What changes each time you beat the game
About
OverviewWhen the Game Is Real is an obby on Roblox that starts out simple and lighthearted, then grows stranger and more unsettling every time you clear it. Each run unlocks a new rebirth, changing how the world looks and feels. This guide covers how to get through the early stages, what to expect from each phase, and what the game throws at you the further you go.
What is on this page
Contents
Player notes and tips
Found a useful trick? Share it with everyone! Notes with screenshots are welcome!
Write a guide note
when the game is real
What changes each time you beat the game
Summary
The game runs on a rebirth system — finish a run and the next one opens up with a different look and feel. There are four phases the world moves through as you keep going.
- Rebirth 0 the starting point; stages are built mostly from elephant textures, with some rock, grass, and lava areas mixed in
- Phase 1 Normal, with photos of the elephant placed around the map
- Phase 2 Strange, with maze wallpapers and sad faces spread across the map
- Phase 3 The map turns to meat and viscera, and the obstacles get harder
- Phase 4 Everything goes white, obstacles are the hardest yet, and you can speak to an elephant that gives you the yellow gem to finish the run
MetaNew Player Survey
The next survey is being prepared.
Getting through Stage 1
StepIn Rebirth 0, Stage 1 puts you on a line of simple four-stud platforms. There is nothing tricky here; just keep moving forward.
- Cross the platforms a straight line of four-stud platforms leads away from your spawn point
- Spot the temple ahead you will see a temple decorated with one red gem, one blue gem, and one green gem at the top
- Enter the glowing pit past the temple you reach a glowing pit; step into it to move on to Stage 2
The elephant frames in Stage 2
StepStage 2 takes place on a grass bridge lined with frames. Each frame holds either a normal elephant or an evil elephant. Walking through an evil elephant frame kills you, so you need to pick the right ones in the right order.
- Read the frames each frame you approach shows either a normal (N) or evil (E) elephant
- Follow the sequence the correct order is N, E, N, E, E, N, E, N, N, E
Gems, the yellow gem, and finishing a run
TipsEach phase asks you to find three gems — red, blue, and green. At the end of the phase, a large yellow gem becomes available. Grabbing it opens the door to the finale of that run.
- The yellow gem is what actually unlocks the final door of each run
- In Phase 4 you get the yellow gem by talking to an elephant on the map
- The game is still being developed, and a final chapter has not yet been released
Content warnings before you start
WarnThe developers themselves note the game is not recommended for young children, even though Roblox rates it 9+. The content gets progressively more intense with each rebirth.
Secrets and badges worth hunting
CheckThere are ten badges in the game. Several of them point to things off the main route that are easy to miss on a first playthrough.
- Look for a secret grinkler shwinky one badge is awarded just for finding it
- Visit the fan art gallery a gallery exists somewhere in the game and has its own badge
- Reach blue level 4 a badge marks this specific milestone
- Find the elephant car one badge is tied to discovering it
- Beat the hard boss a badge called HARD BOSS exists, and the developers warn it is genuinely difficult
Glossary
Glossary- Rebirth
- A new cycle of the game that unlocks after you finish a run, each one changing how the world looks and plays.
- Obby
- Short for obstacle course — the core format of this game, where you jump across platforms and avoid hazards to reach the end.
- Jumpscare
- A sudden loud sound or startling image used to frighten the player.
- Yellow gem
- The large gem collected at the end of each phase that opens the door to the finale of that run.
- Normal / Evil elephant (N / E)
- The two types of frames in Stage 2 — N frames are safe to walk through, E frames kill you.
Common questions
FAQI keep dying in Stage 2. What am I doing wrong?
The frames must be crossed in a specific order: N, E, N, E, E, N, E, N, N, E. N means the normal elephant and E means the evil one.
What actually happens after I clear a run?
Clearing a run unlocks a new rebirth. With each rebirth the world shifts — textures change, new obstacles appear, and the tone of the game gets progressively darker and stranger.
Is the game finished?
Not yet. The game currently has four phases and a range of secrets, but a final chapter is still to come.
Game updates can change what is on this page. If you spot something, get in touch and let us know.
